Living Car Free - Complete Streets again in 2009?

Sen Tom Harkin of Iowa introduced legislation before the Senate last year as a means of re-organizing city streets to make them safer for cycling and pedestrians. Apparently this bill and its partner for the House will be re-introduced this year.

This bill received a lot of attention in A&S. Just wondering what folks in LCF think.

Here's a summary:



What the Bill Does:
The Complete Streets Act of 2008 would add a provision to Title 23 to ensure that future transportation investments made by state Departments of Transportation and Metropolitan Planning Organizations create appropriate and safe transportation facilities for all those using the road – motorists, transit vehicles and riders, bicyclists, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities.
More than 50 jurisdictions spanning all regions of the country have adopted complete streets policies that direct transportation planners to consider the needs of all users when transportation investment decisions are made. They ensure streets don’t create barriers for children, disabled users, older persons, or those who do not drive. They make sure that roads are designed and updated to allow everyone to travel safely.
The Complete Streets Act of 2008 builds on these existing successful state and local policies to define effective complete streets policies, and to direct state DOTs and MPOs to adopt such policies and apply them to upcoming transportation projects. The bill also authorizes needed research and dissemination of complete streets best practices.
The Complete Streets Act of 2008 was introduced by Senators Harkin and Carper and has been referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

The Benefits of Complete Streets
Complete Streets fight climate change and reduce our dependence on foreign oil– they are essential if we are serious about helping people drive less and save money on gas. The 2001 National Household Transportation Survey reveals that 50% of all trips in metropolitan areas are three miles or less, 28% of all metropolitan trips are one mile or less – distances easily traversed by foot or bicycle. Yet 65 percent of those trips under one mile are now made by automobile, in part because of incomplete streets that make it dangerous or unpleasant to walk, bicycle, or take transit. Complete streets policies should be an element of the nation’s strategy for addressing climate change and energy security. As gas prices rise, complete streets help people avoid the pain at the pump.
Complete streets improve pedestrian safety. About one-third of Americans do not drive, including an increasing number of seniors and low income Americans who cannot afford cars. Yet just like everyone else, they require access to a variety of other transportation options in order to get to work, school, shops and medical visits, and to take part in social, civic and volunteer activities. In 2006, nearly one quarter of pedestrian fatalities were children (8 percent) and older adults (15 percent)i. Designing the street with pedestrians in mind -- sidewalks, raised medians, better bus stop placement, traffic-calming measures, and treatments for disabled travelers -- may reduce pedestrian risk by as much as 28%ii.
Complete streets can help increase the capacity of the transportation network by giving people more choices. The Texas Transportation Institute found that providing more travel options, including public transportation, bicycling and walking facilities, are important elements in reducing congestioniii.
Complete Streets direct a better use of taxpayer dollars. In Illinois, the statewide complete streets law was passed last year to avoid unnecessary expense. Lawmakers had heard the story of a bridge near Cary, Illinois that was built without any safe way to cross it via foot or bicycle. After several deaths, and a successful wrongful-death lawsuit filed by the parents of a teenager killed on the bridge, the state DOT had to go back at great expense and retrofit the existing bridge, adding a path to the span. It would have far less expensive to do it right, the first time.
Complete streets encourage healthy and active lifestyles. One study found that 43% of people with safe places to walk within 10 minutes of home met recommended activity levels, while just 27% of those lacking safe options were active enoughiv. Nearly one third of transit users meet the Surgeon General’s daily activity recommendations just through their routine travelsv.



What it is: http://www.completestreets.org/policies.html

Success Stories: http://www.completestreets.org/early.html

Sen Harkin new release :http://harkin.senate.gov/pr/p.cfm?i=294064

Well given the crap and watering down that I am already seeing in the current transportation bill, I am not too amused. It looks like business as usual in DC.:notamused:

Aaron:)

I guess the .gov intends to stimulate the economy by spending great gobs of money on road construction. I predict they will paradoxically skimp on bike & pedestrian facilities and justify it in terms of cost reduction. This will be in strict accordance with the Law of Maximum Irony.

I guess the .gov intends to stimulate the economy by spending great gobs of money on road construction. I predict they will paradoxically skimp on bike & pedestrian facilities and justify it in terms of cost reduction. This will be in strict accordance with the Law of Maximum Irony.

Under the draft on the stimulus plan I have seen, they have cut out many, many public works projects (sewer and water) in favor of roads and tax cuts to balance the bill. Roads are about the only thing that isn't taking a cut. They still don't get it. Also under the new energy proposal we are supposed to be increasing the amount of electrical generation so people's power bills will go down, they want to do as much development of power generation in 3 years (if I am reading it correctly) as they did in the past 30? Improve effiecency on cars, but don't have any plans for REDUCTION in automobile use which would be the quickest way to at least start reducing our dependence on foreign oil. The current transportation/stimulus plan looks just like one from the 1950's.

Aaron:)

Under the draft on the stimulus plan I have seen, they have cut out many, many public works projects (sewer and water) in favor of roads and tax cuts to balance the bill. Roads are about the only thing that isn't taking a cut. They still don't get it. Also under the new energy proposal we are supposed to be increasing the amount of electrical generation so people's power bills will go down, they want to do as much development of power generation in 3 years (if I am reading it correctly) as they did in the past 30? Improve effiecency on cars, but don't have any plans for REDUCTION in automobile use which would be the quickest way to at least start reducing our dependence on foreign oil. The current transportation/stimulus plan looks just like one from the 1950's.

Aaron:)

If this is true it goes along with my misgivings when I heard Obama say that he'd maintain our way of life. So far his change refreshes us from the crud of the Bush years but we need to change our way of life. I wanted him to acknowledge that we can live better by reducing auto use so the stimulus will be focused on trains and bikes and walking and livable cities.

About all the Republicans in the House and Senate are willing to go along wity are roads and tax cuts. they say everything else is "frivolous" or "pork." The Dems, as usual, are doing a poor job of explaining what they want to the public. It needs to be explained. People think bike facilities, in particular, are for recreation. They just don't get the idea that bikes are serious transportation for adults.

People think bike facilities, in particular, are for recreation. They just don't get the idea that bikes are serious transportation for adults.

A big problem is that many cyclists also believe that bike facilities are for recreation. In this time of dire need, the big bicycle news in Des Moines is a rail trail completing a loop out of town. A nice project, but probably much better spent on putting some better bike or bus infrastructure in the suburbs.

Another problem I sense is that the cycling community itself is divided on exactly what comprises a "complete street". It would be so cool is we could all agree on something. It would make the lobbying much more effective. For example, many seem to be opposed to bicycle lanes. However, in many cases, I'm not sure how you could otherwise get cyclists safely down busy thoroughfares.

Under the draft on the stimulus plan I have seen, they have cut out many, many public works projects (sewer and water) in favor of roads and tax cuts to balance the bill. Roads are about the only thing that isn't taking a cut. They still don't get it. Also under the new energy proposal we are supposed to be increasing the amount of electrical generation so people's power bills will go down, they want to do as much development of power generation in 3 years (if I am reading it correctly) as they did in the past 30? Improve effiecency on cars, but don't have any plans for REDUCTION in automobile use which would be the quickest way to at least start reducing our dependence on foreign oil. The current transportation/stimulus plan looks just like one from the 1950's.

Aaron:)

Someone said it in another thread that this was basically a second highway bill. Why are we building more highways? It creates more construction jobs, which creates more subdivisions, which creates more shopping centers, office parks, housing etc.

HOWEVER, all of this new construction for housing, malls and office parks will require hundreds of BILLIONS of dollars from the banks who aren't lending money. Folks, don't put any more money into the market. We are going into a deep recession and the current bailout plans are not going to pull out out. This is going to be a very deep recession.

Someone said it in another thread that this was basically a second highway bill. Why are we building more highways? It creates more construction jobs, which creates more subdivisions, which creates more shopping centers, office parks, housing etc.

HOWEVER, all of this new construction for housing, malls and office parks will require hundreds of BILLIONS of dollars from the banks who aren't lending money. Folks, don't put any more money into the market. We are going into a deep recession and the current bailout plans are not going to pull out out. This is going to be a very deep recession.

Because that and conspicuous consumption is what has driven the economy for the past 30 years. We don't have much of a manufacturing base anymore, little to no textiles, little to no appliances, little to no...whatever. The major manufacturing concerns that used to be in the US have been systematically disassembled and sold to the highest bidder, and to whoever provides the lowest labor costs to maximize profits. To be sold to consumers on the hunt for the absolute lowest price on the cheapest product. Names like Huffy, Schwinn, Black and Decker, Wrangler, Levi's, Hamilton Beach, Phillips, Maganavox...and the list goes on. You cannot support an economy that purchases most of it's goods from other countries.

Aaron:)

http://m.detnews.com/news.jsp?key=401890&rc=dis
City streets are even worse off.

http://m.detnews.com/news.jsp?key=401890&rc=dis
City streets are even worse off.

Pretty bad news.

In this type of scenario, you won't get to see many bike lanes.

Maybe I should buy some cyclocross tires.

Under the draft on the stimulus plan I have seen, they have cut out many, many public works projects (sewer and water) in favor of roads and tax cuts to balance the bill. Roads are about the only thing that isn't taking a cut. They still don't get it. (snip)

Aaron:)

A public works project that cannot be seen with the naked eye has no value to a politician needing credit. It only has value if he can point to it and say; "See, I brought that project home!"

Politicians do not make economic decisions. They make political decisions that have economic consequences. They spend public money not for the public good, but rather to maximize future votes.